Fentanyl Withdrawal

In 2016, synthetic opioids accounted for 50% of opioid-related deaths. Fentanyl was the most common drug that caused overdose deaths. If someone you love is dependent on fentanyl and wants to break the addiction, then you should understand what fentanyl withdrawal involves.

Two Ways to Discontinue Fentanyl Use

Quitting fentanyl or any drug cold turkey is overwhelming and often unsuccessful. Your doctor may put you on a tapering schedule to gradually eliminate the opioid from your system. Doctors often put Fentanyl users on another, less potent opioid, such as methadone. The idea is to keep some opioid in the system to lower the severity of fentanyl withdrawal symptoms.

Medical professionals reduce the dosage of the opioid by 20%-50% each day. Eventually, this will reduce to nothing. This is done until your body starts adjusting to an absence of the opioid and withdrawal symptoms are manageable.

Your doctor will design the tapering schedule based on factors such as the:

Level of dependency

Presence or absence of co-occurring disorders

Duration of dependency

Existence of polysubstance abuse

What to Expect in Detox

Detox, followed by rehab, is the ideal route for treatment that most likely leads to a long-lasting recovery. In detox, an individual must overcome withdrawal symptoms such as:

Gastrointestinal problems

Insomnia

Excessive sweating

Restlessness

Anxiety

During this time, your body will crave the drug. It’s best that you gradually cleanse your body of fentanyl under the supervision of doctors at a detox facility. Fentanyl withdrawal is a critical first stage that sets the momentum for sobriety. After detox, fentanyl addiction treatment can start to maximize the chances of sustained recovery and relapse prevention.

Fentanyl Withdrawal Timeline

Although withdrawal manifests differently in different users, the following experiences generally hold true for all:

Your withdrawal symptoms may start 12 to 30 hours after the last dose.
If you used a fentanyl patch (a long-acting medication), withdrawal could begin within 24 hours of removing the patch.
The early signs of withdrawal that you can expect include muscle aches, anxiety, and sleeplessness.
Your symptoms will peak two to four days after the last dosage. You will experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal discomfort.
The physical symptoms of fentanyl withdrawal will cease after a week. Then, you will enter the post-acute withdrawal stage marked by psychological withdrawal symptoms.

The second withdrawal stage usually lasts a few months and up to two years. Its symptoms include disturbed sleep, irritability, mood swings, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.

You’re at a risk of relapse during post-acute fentanyl withdrawal. The self-care lessons you learn from our master therapists will help you manage cravings and stick to your recovery journey. We also offer a post-rehab aftercare plan that assists you in your ongoing efforts to stay sober. Personalized to your unique requirements, rehab aftercare is particularly important if you will be returning to a stressful living environment.

Avoid the Risk of Fentanyl Overdose

Accidental fentanyl overdose from mixing the drug with cocaine, alcohol, and methamphetamines is increasingly common among young adults. Although Naloxone can reverse a fentanyl overdose, it’s not reliable enough to bet your life on.

Don’t put your life in jeopardy. Get in touch with Crestview Recovery at 866-262-0531 to receive a customized treatment plan combining therapies such as: